Updates from Margaret Lipsey's studio

Live Painting

There is such a wonderful energy to painting in the company of others. Very early in my career, I was asked to paint in chocolate at a very large event here in Montreal. I jumped at the opportunity but truth be told I do prefer painting with acrylic. Every opportunity since then that I have had to paint in public I have taken. I am always intrigued that the dynamic of my work changes depending on the group and the setting.
My next challenge to myself is to work on a collaboration with another artist. Focusing on the Women of Strength series, I want to see how the work and the impact changes with the addition of another artist's style.

26 July 2017

What we Hide and What we Show

When I began this series, I thought that it was a study in balance in black and white. I was eating lunch when my muse whispered in my ear “try this.” That afternoon I had painted the first two layers of 9 little works. The paint kept flowing from there onto larger canvases and smaller ones.
As I started naming the works, I realized the theme of hiding and revealing was in nearly every work. I do recognize that the process of becoming an artist has, for me, been a discovery of myself. Somehow this collection of works was asking me to examine what I have tried to hide from others and what I have hidden from myself.

15 July 2017

Postcards for Hope: Women Rise Up!

I am so honored to be part of this initiative that started on International Women's Day. The project was a collaboration with 5 other artists and benefits Artistri Sud, a Montreal-based charity that supports and trains female artisans in developing countries.
Great things really do happen when artists get together for a good cause!
http://pistacheandrose.weebly.com/blog/look-for-ways-to-give

13 March 2017

Valentine's means chocolate

I have had the honor, the last couple years, of painting with chocolate at Je t'aime en Chocolat here in Montreal. The event is a marriage of chocolate and fashion, featuring local chocolate producers, demonstrations by Cacao Barry, and a fashion show with chocolate fashion and accessories.
I became involved after I began painting my Women of Strength series. The image seemed to fit perfectly with the event and I was invited to display my women and paint them live and in chocolate.
Since I am always up for a challenge and I used to be a chef, I dove into the project and it has become a favorite for me every year.

16 February 2017

Everyone loves Chocolate!

I have such a wonderful time painting at events. I am excited to announce that I will be painting in chocolate this weekend for Je t'aime en chocolat in Montreal. The event is a fusion of chocolate and fashion to get you in the mood for Valentine's day next week. I will be creating works based on my Women of Strength series.
More photos to come!

07 February 2017

The place where I work

We bought our house from a professional photographer. He had built a full dark room in the basement along with a finishing room to prepare prints for framing. The space was likely pristine when he was using it but now that I've taken over the huge water table for developing film is being used to store finished canvases and the finishing table is speckled in paint, the shelving below filled with various types and sizes of paper, the rack holding canvases that are drying. My studio is not the light filled day dream of most fine artists but it is both useable and well used. The counter is picking up the story of my journey as it becomes embedded with gold leaf and bumpy with paint. I can't imagine a better way to start this wild ride!